Almost done!!

Well, as the semester gets closer to the end, I find it much harder to find motivation. But, having a super good lesson yesterday really helps. Recital actually went very well. I just need to focus on what I'm doing and everything comes pretty easily. Yesterday during my lesson, I was actually finding the buzz. That was pretty exciting. I've been doing a lot of 'e's during practice and just getting it really all up in my nose. It feels really wrong, but it's a lot easier to sing so it must be right! Now I pretty much just need to memorize my rep and I should be good to go for juries. The improvement I've made this semester is still blowing my mind. I am trying to keep a really positive attitude now and just wait for the improvements to keep coming. My biggest thing I want to work on now is figuring out when to sing in my head voice and when to sing in my chest voice. It's like right around the a, b, and cish area that my voice just gets a little confused, but I'm pretty sure that just practicing will clear that up. Summer is in sight...YES!!!

square one.

Well, I'm finally getting better after being sick, but I feel like I'm right back where I started this semester. I'm afraid this is a vicious cycle. I can't afford to get sick and have to recover and then start all over again. Also, I'm terrified of singing in recital next week. Generally, I'm quite the confident girl. The way I carry myself, the way I dress, the work I do....I love everything about that. However, when it comes to singing, that is just my downfall. I expect so much of myself that it's just impossible for me to please myself. I don't know if it's just from being sick or what, but I've been getting tired after singing for a while. I guess I'm just getting frustrated or something. Not really a good time in the semester for that to happen but I'll work it out. I guess I just need an attitude check and to freaking stay healthy. Hopefully I can pull it together here soon. Gosh I am such a negative Nancy. Oh well though, I shall try and fix that.

Yay

So last week I had to sing in studio and I was really super nervous because that was the first time a lot of those people had ever even heard me sing before. I decided to sing "Vergin Tutto Amor" since that piece seems to be the one I'm most confident in. I was really nervous for some reason, and Mr.Phil even had to tell me to calm down as he was playing the intro. But the song started and I made it through just fine. I kind of forgot everything I learned all semester at first when I started, but after I got into the groove a little bit then it all started coming back. For some reason, I just really crave everybody's approval so I was pretty anxious to hear what everyone was going to say about it. Luckily, everybody's comments were really nice and the criticism was very constructive. That gave me a lot of confidence going into this week. Of course, good things are never going to last as long as you want them too, and I got sick again this week so that's always a pain, but I'm going to start doing a sinus rinse thing and I think that will help an incredible amount. Now that I'm starting to catch on to the buzz thing a little better, my main problem is switching from my head voice to my chest voice. It's at right about a B where I have to change and it's kind of like my voice just breaks there. I don't really have any idea what to do about it, but it is very frustrating. With juries and singing in recital looming upon me, I really want to kick it in gear with this stuff and just have it all figured out, but I know it takes time and it's not that easy. I am super excited for this time next year though, I just can't wait to see how much I've improved because the difference I can tell in my voice from just the beginning of this semester to now just astounds me. So I must be doing something right!

Sick week.

Well, last Friday I came down with a stupid cold and it is still going on, but luckily it is finally winding down. It was the stupid cough and plugged nose kind of cold so I didn't get into the practice room very much this week, but I did work on some listening and literature. But today in voice lessons I did get some singing done and the buzz came easier today than usual. I've really been trying to apply everything I learn when we're rehearsing in choir. That seems to be helping me quite a bit as well. When I am actually singing with a buzz the sound seems to flow easier than before. Ever since I started lessons this semester, singing just seems to be a lot of work! <--Not a complaint! But I just find myself concentrating on where my tongue is placed in my mouth or if my jaw is dropped, or how the air is flowing. I think I made a really good realization today in lessons when Dr.Hepworth told me to feel the air moving like down my nose. I could literally feel that and I could envision the air moving kind of if that makes any sense? Also, I learned a new way to manage my stress today by breathing in colors. Very much appreciated.

You're the best Dr.Hepworth :)

Buzz buzz.

This week I focused a lot on my Italian pieces. One of the big things I worked on were trilling my rs on pitch. I also hammered down a few rhythms I was having a few difficulties in Vergin Tutto Amor and Tu Lo Sai. I also got a new song this week which is just an English song called "To A Wild Rose". I like it a ton better than "If Music Be the Food of Love". I really don't know why I don't like that song, but it just annoys me for some reason. It's really awesome that Dr.Hepworth let me kick that one out of my repitoire because a lot of teachers would just make you suck it up and sing it anyways. I still really can't figure out the buzz thing. The thing that confuses me is I think I know when I have it, but then other times Dr.Hepworth will tell me that I'm doing well, but I can't feel a buzz at all. Is it supposed to be like really apparent or what? This buzz thing is driving me up the wall! And I know I'm supposed to find it by getting my tongue out of the way of my throat but I cannot freaking figure it out. I'm hoping someday it will just click and all my problems will magically vanish. April 20th is when I have to sing on recital and it is looming closer and closer. I think I am going to sing "Vergin Tutto Amore", but we shall see.

Tour week.

We had choir tour this week and I was really surprised at how well my voice handled it. Usually, my voice would be shot after two performances, but we did five total throughout the two days and I'm really tired, but it's not even from singing, it's just from lack of sleep. That's a really good feeling for me because I can finally tell that my voice is getting much stronger. Practice has been going well, I've just been going over my songs, and I think I'm starting to get a pretty good feel for them. One thing I think I need help with is warm ups. I guess my question is if there is like a certain order I should do vocalises in or how many I should do or maybe even learn some new ones. I'm still trying to find the "buzz" also. I just don't think I know what I'm looking for. I've tried experimenting, but I just cannot figure that out. Since midterms are over I have a feeling time is going to just start flying. It's going to be my time to sing in recital before I know it. I am still terrified, but we will cross that bridge once we get to it!

Breakthrough!!

Finally, a blog that won't be full of complaints! I had a really good week yay! Ever since I got switched to soprano two in choir, everything just seems a lot easier. Today in my lesson we made it through all of my songs, well kind of since I really don't like "If Music Be the Food of Love"...But today was the first time we really actually worked on singing through my repertoire and it felt really really good to feel like I was actually accomplishing something. My next order of business that I need to tackle is figuring out how to find the buzz. I'm really starting to catch on to the whole dropping the jaw thing I think, but I just can't figure out what exactly it is I need to do for the buzz. I suppose it will just involve a lot of practicing and a lot of experimenting. Nothing I can't handle though. I'm starting to get sick with a scratchy sore throat and a head cold sort of thing, but it's in it's infancy yet so I'm hoping that I can kick it to the curb before it will really start affecting me. Tonight is my first choir concert as a soprano so I'm pretty excited for that! Things are finally starting to click and it is super awesome. Let's just hope it stays that way!